Cusick loses heartbreaker, beat Columbia

CUSICK – The Cusick Panthers boys’ basketball team lost a close one to Inchelium (8-3, 13-3) Tuesday, Jan. 13, 57-56.

The teams traded leads throughout the game. Cusick was up 20-19 in the first quarter, behind 35-25 at halftime, started to catch up with a 14-11 in the third quarter and were within two points with five seconds left.

“I called a play for Daniel (Lyons) to get a shot off, he passed to Aiden (Schubert), who was fouled,” said Cusick coach Raymond Ostlie. Schubert missed the first foul shot and hit the second as time ran out.

Lyons led all scorers with 32 points, including six 3-pointers. Ostlie says Inchelium is a good team who beat them 71-59 when they played in December.

Saturday, Jan. 10, Cusick beat a Columbia-Hunters 70-43 at home, with three Panthers scoring in double figures. Lyons had 18, Charles Whitford scored 13 and Thomas Sullivan scored 10.

Cusick (4-7, 8-6) played Republic (7-2, 10-5) Tuesday after the newspaper went to press. They host the Battle for the Paddle Spirit game with Selkirk (4-6, 6-8) Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, the Panthers host Curlew (1-8, 3-19) for senior night at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Cusick hosts St. Johns Endicott/ LaCrosse (1-8, 3-9) at 7:30 p.m.